Composition of matter for packing the joints of gas-pipes



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARGHIBALD H. RONVAND, OF ALLEGHENY, AND RUDOLPH S. HUNZEKER,

' OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPOSITION OF MATTER FOR PACKING THE JOINTS F GAS-PIPES, 8L0.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,751, dated September 28, 1886.

Application filed Januaryfldfl 886. Serial No. 190.096. (No spccimens) To all whom, it may concern: I

Be it known that we, AROHYIBALD H. Row AND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allegheny city, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, and RUDOLPH S. HUNZEKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain ncwand useful Improvements in a Compo- 1o sition of Matter for Packing the Joints of Gas- Pipes, &c., of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in plastic compounds, the object of which is to make a packing material for use in the packing of joints of pipes, &c.

Our invention consists in the combination of pitch or other waterproof material of like character with molasses, glucose, sugar, or

other saccharine material which will so tten the same and keep it in a soft and pliable condition, so that it will not be cracked, broken, or destroyed by the expansion and contraction of the joints in which it is used.

Our packing compound is specially adapted for packing the joints of a pipe-coupling for which we have made application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 173,671, August 5, 1885; a but we do not limit its use to such, as it is obo vious that it is applicable to the packing of all pipe-joints and for other purposes.

In carrying out our invent-ion we take coaltar, pitch, rosin, or any of theinsoluble or water-resisting bitumens or gums, and heat it so as to reduce it to a plastic condition, and add thereto, while in a heated condition, molasses, glucose, sugar, or other saccharine material in proportions suitable for the uses to which the material is to be put, and owing to the differo ent consistencies required the exact formula of proportions can only be determined by the uses to which the packing compound is put. The rule, however, will be to add to the pitch or other material, while in a liquid or semiliq- 5 uid condition, just enough of molasses, glucose, sugar, orother saccharine material to destructive action of the benzine, acids, or alkeep the mass from becoming hard when at the temperature of natural gas when it emerges from the earth, which is about 35, more or less.

This composition of matter, when made as above indicated, is specially useful for packing the joints of gas pipes and mains, and particu larly those used for the holding and conveyance of natural gas.

It is a well-known fact that natural gas has a large percentage of benzine in it, which is one of the greatest known solvents, and hence great difficulty has been. experienced in getting a packing materal which will stand the action of the benzine; but experiments have proven that the benzine has no effect on the compound above described, and that a joint can be formed with it which will remain tight for an indefinite length of time, the characteristic of the packing being such that it will yield to eXpan .sions and contractions'of the joints without breaking or becoming displaced.

Whilewe have described our compound as specially applicable to the packing of pipejoints, we do not limit its uses, for the reason that it is well adapted for lining or coating the inside of pipes, barrels, casks, &c., to prevent the same from leaking, and also to prevent the kalies. 

